New task force assumes control of detainee operations in Afghanistan

JTF 435

KABUL, Afghanistan (Jan. 8, 2010) – A new Joint Task Force created to assume control of detention operations in Afghanistan became operational this week. The new unit, based in Kabul, will play an important role in the counterinsurgency campaign in Afghanistan.

Joint Task Force 435 achieved Initial Operations Capability (IOC) Jan. 7 to assume command, oversight and responsibility for detainee operations in Afghanistan.

The task force is commanded by Vice Adm. Robert S. Harward Jr. and is part of U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A). Upon achieving IOC, the task force garnered the capability to conduct command and control of subordinate units and operate as a headquarters. Joint Task Force (JTF) 435 was established by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in September 2009. It assumed responsibility for U.S. detention operations from Combined Joint Task Force 82, including the care and custody of detainees at the Detention Facility in Parwan, oversight of detainee review processes, programs for the peaceful reintegration of detainees into society, and coordination with other agencies and partners for the promotion of the rule of law in Afghanistan.

As part of its mission, JTF 435 will train and mentor the Afghan government to help improve detention operations throughout Afghanistan so these operations can be transitioned back to the Afghan government in accordance with all applicable international and national laws.

JTF 435 will also coordinate with other agencies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and coalition partners.

Currently, there are about 750 detainees in U.S. custody in Afghanistan, of which about ten to twenty percent are considered hardened extremists. However, local insurgents, foreign fighters and al Qaeda also represent more than 2,500 of the 14,500 inmates in the Afghan corrections system – some of whom seek to radicalize non-insurgents.

JTF 435, along with Afghan partners, will essentially be conducting counterinsurgency behind the wire,” working with Afghan partners in deradicalization efforts, as well as reintegration – helping detainees who no longer pose a threat with reading and writing and vocational skills that will help them be peaceful and productive citizens upon release.

Harward stressed the importance of the vocational training programs currently being offered at the U.S. Detention Facility in Parwan.

“By providing an environment that’s conducive to rehabilitation and reintegration programs, as well as vocational training,” Harward said, “we are offering detainees a viable option other than returning to the insurgency.”

Besides overseeing U.S. detention operations, JTF 435 is preparing to have other partners join the command. Instead of being all U.S. military members, the goal is for the task force to include officials from Afghan and U.S. organizations, such as the Afghan Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Justice, the U.S. State Department, and the U.S.Department of Justice.

The official term of what leaders of the task force hope to become is a Combined Joint Interagency Task Force, or CJIATF. The task force will also help mentor and train Afghans to build greater capacity in rule of law and detention, creating a more professional Afghan system – from cops, to courts to corrections. The task force’s ultimate goal is to transition all detention operations over to the government of Afghanistan.

“We will transition detention operations here to our Afghan partners once they have developed the sustainable capacity,” Harward said. “We are committed to increasing the Afghan government’s capability by providing training, management and mentorship on lawful, humane and transparent detention operations, which will provide greater security for the people of Afghanistan.”

As part of the U.S. strategy for counter-insurgency, JTF 435 implemented a reintegration program to provide marketable skills to detainees prior to their release. JTF-435’s Deputy Commander is Brig. Gen. Mark Martins, who noted that the new unit is linking detention and rule of law with strategic objectives established by General Stanley McChrystal, Commander of the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF).

“It’s strategy and counterinsurgency in the context of Afghanistan,” Martins said. “Detention, if not done properly, can actually harm the effort. We think transparency is certainly going to help the counterinsurgency effort and increase credibility of the whole process.”

Martins, an Army judge advocate and former infantryman, led the rule of law campaign in Iraq from 2006 to 2008 while serving with Army Gen. David Petraeus in Multi-National Force - Iraq. While in Iraq, Martins coordinated the work of United States and coalition investigative, corrections, and judicial experts and directed MNF-I support to Iraq’s courts and law enforcement institutions. Martins was also recently named Chief Judge of U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals before being selected to help lead JTF 435. Harward recently served as Deputy Commander United States Joint Forces Command. His experience comes from multiple combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. He assumed command of JTF 435 Nov. 28, 2009.

PHOTO: Navy Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Bertrand (left) and Air Force Capt. John Feldt gather information for responses to a Mission Rehearsal Exercise (MRX) battle drill scenario. JTF 435 successfully completed the MRX and reached Initial Operations Capability Jan. 7. Upon achieving IOC, JTF 435 gained the capability to conduct command and control of subordinate units and operate as a headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Source: CENTCOM.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Founders' Daily Quote(s): 1/4-8/10

Monday, January 4, 2010.
"There is something so far-fetched and so extravagant in the idea of danger to liberty from the militia that one is at a loss whether to treat it with gravity or with raillery; whether to consider it as a mere trial of skill, like the paradoxes of rhetoricians; as a disingenuous artifice to instil prejudices at any price; or as the serious." --Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 29

Tue. 1/5.
"We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt." --Thomas Jefferson, letter to Samuel Kercheval, 1816

Wed. 1/6.
"The multiplication of public offices, increase of expense beyond income, growth and entailment of a public debt, are indications soliciting the employment of the pruning knife." --Thomas Jefferson, letter to Spencer Roane, 1821

Thu. 1/7.
"[A] rigid economy of the public contributions and absolute interdiction of all useless expenses will go far towards keeping the government honest and unoppressive." --Thomas Jefferson, letter to Marquis de Lafayette, 1823

No wonder the Left hates our founding fathers and anyone who lived before them.

Fri. 1/8.
"As on the one hand, the necessity for borrowing in particular emergencies cannot be doubted, so on the other, it is equally evident that to be able to borrow upon good terms, it is essential that the credit of a nation should be well established." --Alexander Hamilton, Report on Public Credit, 1790

Source: Patriot Post.us.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Afghan soldiers join Marine infantry units

by Lance Cpl. James W. Clark
RCT-7

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan (Jan. 7, 2010) – During mid-afternoon on New Year's Day, a sea of men in green, brown and black camouflage uniforms shuffled awkwardly inside a crowded beige tent here.

Men with thick, black beards and hard faces sat next to clean-shaven youths with full smiles. Each one wears the uniform of his nation's military, and each one carries a weapon.

The full company of Afghan National Army soldiers, fresh out of boot camp, was being integrated directly into Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment.

Pairing the soldiers of a host nation with coalition forces is not a new practice; this time however, the soldiers will be integrated with Marines at the smallest operating level. Each infantry company will nearly double in size, and Afghan soldiers and Marines will work side by side.

"We've never worked this extensively with the [Afghan army] before," said squad leader Marine Corps Sgt. Neil Terranova.

Integrating the forces is designed to build up the strength of the Afghan army through mentoring and joint operations. It will start at the company level and move down, all the way through the platoons and on to the fire teams, explained Terranova, who is on his third deployment to Afghanistan.

Terranova acknowledged he was reluctant to take part in the training at first, but said he came around when he thought about the ultimate outcome of the war and its impact on future generations. "I have a son,” he said, “and I don't want him coming back here in 20 years. If we do this right and they do it right, we might not have to come back."

The development of the Afghan army's noncommissioned officers is the primary focus of the training and mentoring. Marine NCOs will work closely with their Afghan counterparts in the hope of developing their small-unit leadership, said Marine Corps Sgt. Ryan White, Alpha Company’s assault section leader.

"We'll be mentoring them on the fly, giving a crash course in basic Marine infantry training," White explained. "The goal is to see them grow and develop, see them stand on their own and defend their country for themselves."

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Stephen Vallejo Jr., an Alpha Company platoon sergeant, explained how the information flow will work. "Integrating the companies directly allows for information to be passed quickly since the two companies will be set up like mirror images of one another; with each platoon down to the squads and fire teams being paired with their Marine or Afghan counterpart," he said.

"The NCOs are our main focus,” said Vallejo, who is on his second deployment to Afghanistan and has worked with the Afghan security forces before. “All the [Afghan soldiers] graduated in the same class, and the most mature became their sergeants. We'll be starting with basic individual tasks, like weapons handling and cleaning, before moving on to team-level training, where we'll be giving the NCOs more leadership and responsibility."

Vallejo said the largest obstacle is neither language nor culture. It’s time.

"What we put into it is what we'll get out of it," he said. "This puts an Afghan face on everything that we're doing here. If they can grasp just a piece of what we're teaching, we'll be successful.

“Personally, I feel we should give full respect and trust from the get-go,” he continued. “Everyone makes mistakes, but it's all about respect and getting to know them, their families, and who they are."

As the Afghan soldiers listened to Marine Corps Lt. Col. Calvert Worth Jr., the battalion commander, welcome them through an interpreter, soldiers who had slumped on cots or leaned against the buttstocks of their weapons sat a little straighter, and their platoon commanders and sergeants stood at parade rest among their counterparts in Alpha Company.

"The main goal is getting these guys to take responsibility for their country," Vallejo said. "They want to do this. They want to be a part of this, and want to get out of it the same things that we want: to have it be Afghan-driven."

PHOTO: Marines with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, attend a briefing with Afghan soldiers at Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan, Jan. 1.

Source: CENTCOM.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Video Potpourri 1/7/10

These are today's new videos. Enjoy!

New Videos from ReasonTV.

We're the TSA and You Can Count on Us! (to overreact to tiny threats and ignore big ones).

Reason Senior Editor Michael C. Moynihan discusses new TSA restrictions on RT - January 4, 2010.

New Videos from viperBSG's Favorites.

Introducing American Special Fender® Guitars.

Orianthi This Girl Rocks Blues Festival Crossroads Eric Clapton (Orianthi Guitar).

Orianthi - According To You.

Kirk Cameron - Origin Into Schools.

E Ku'u Morning Dew - Keola Beamer (cover).

Hosanna- Hillsong United Cover.

ukulele- waterfalls.

New Videos from machosauceproduction.

A behind the scenes peek of Victicrat.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Report criticizes intelligence gathering practices in Afghanistan

by John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON (Jan. 6, 2010) – A report this week from a top U.S. military intelligence official criticizing the state of intelligence in Afghanistan is a “candid self-assessment” that enriches debate on U.S. strategy, the Pentagon press secretary said Wednesay.

The need for a sweeping reform of intelligence practices in Afghanistan underlines proposals Army Maj. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, the deputy chief of staff for Intelligence in Afghanistan, and his advisors published this week through the Washington-based think tank Center for a New American Security.

Though Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates had not yet read the report, Pentagon Spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters it typified the kind of “candid, critical self-assessment that the secretary believes is a sign of a strong and healthy organization.”

“This kind of honest appraisal enriches what has been a very real and hearty and vigorous debate that, frankly, has been taking place within this building, within this department and within this government for years now,” Morrell said.

In the report, “Fixing Intel: A Blueprint for Making Intelligence Relevant in Afghanistan,” Flynn underscores the need to shift the focus of intelligence away from enemy insurgent groups and toward the people of Afghanistan, mirroring the philosophy of U.S. counterinsurgency doctrine.

“Because the United States has focused the overwhelming major¬ity of collection efforts and analytical brainpower on insurgent groups,” the authors write, “our intelligence apparatus still finds itself unable to answer fundamental ques¬tions about the environment in which we operate and the people we are try¬ing to protect and persuade.”

The authors recommend analysts be given more latitude to gather intelligence at the grassroots level in Afghanistan and divide their work based on geography instead of function. One analyst’s holistic assessment of a district’s governance, development and security is more practical than the current approach that yields multiple, separate reports, they argue.

“The alterna¬tive -- having all analysts study an entire province or region through the lens of a narrow, functional line (e.g. one analyst covers governance, another studies narcotics trafficking, a third looks at insurgent networks, etc) -- isn’t working,” the authors write.

Flynn and the other authors also advocate an overhaul of the way intelligence is organized and fed up the chain of command and to other key operatives.

For his part, the Pentagon spokesman today said the report reflects a central issue in the months-long national security debate that culminated in December in a new U.S. approach to Afghanistan that will deploy an additional 30,000 American forces there, bringing the total to roughly 100,000 by next summer.

“One of the fundamental discussions that took place was about the degree to which you balance counterterrorism versus [counterinsurgency], and how best do you pursue the threats that emanate from Afghanistan,” Morrell said. “I think that's at the root of what General Flynn was talking about, which is how you deploy intelligence assets to achieve your objectives.

“Intelligence is critical to our success there, and intelligence over the years has clearly been a challenge that we've had to deal with,” he added. “And I think we are all open to suggestions about how we can be doing this better and how we can be doing this better quickly.”

The critique of intelligence practices in Afghanistan this week comes as President Barack Obama pointed to flaws within the U.S. intelligence community that allowed an attempted terrorist attack aboard a Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines flight on Christmas Day.

“This was not a failure to collect intelligence,” Obama said in a news conference yesterday after meeting with senior national security and intelligence officials. “It was a failure to integrate and understand the intelligence that we already had. . . . That's not acceptable, and I will not tolerate it.”

But Obama also highlighted domestic successes the intelligence community netted last year, and underscored intelligence operators’ sacrifices as exemplified by a recent suicide bombing that killed seven CIA employees near the Afghan-Pakistan border.

“These successes have not come without a price,” he said, “as we saw last week in the loss of our courageous CIA officers in Afghanistan.”

PHOTO: Afghan soldiers and U.S. Marines speak to a village elder in Afghanistan. A recent report criticizes intelligence practices in Afghanistan.

Source: CENTCOM.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Dems Try To Steal Tea Party's Name!

Below is an email I received informing of the bad behavior displayed by a democrat in the state of Florida. He is trying to start a third party in OUR name! Do not be fooled. Please read it, reprint it, tell the world. THEY ARE NOT US! Thanks.

TPP Statement on Tea Party Political Party

Dear Fellow Tea Party Patriots,

There is much talk of the formation of a third political party based on the tea party movement. In Florida, a Democratic operative with absolutely no connection to the tea party movement has filed papers to form a third party called the Florida Tea Party. He has issued legal threats against local tea parties demanding that they cease using the name "Florida Tea Party."

Tea Party Patriots is issuing this statement in order to make it clear that we are not associated with this, or any attempts to form a third party. Additionally, we believe that such efforts are unproductive and unwise at this time. The history of third party movements in this country is one of division and defeat. We believe that it is instead time for all Americans to rise up and demand appropriate reform within their own parties. The mechanisms exist for citizens to participate in their parties, and to drive their parties in the right direction.

The Tea Party Patriots encourage all citizens to get involved in the party process, and to reshape their parties into something in which they may once again believe. This country does not belong to any one party, nor does it belong to the career politicians. This country belongs to the citizens. As Benjamin Franklin once said, "We have given you a republic madam, if you can keep it." The founders knew that it would be our sacred obligation as citizens to get involved, and to work hard to hold on to this great nation. We have much work to do, and future generations will look back in judgment. We hope you will join us in preserving the republic.

Tea Party Patriots, Inc. is a social welfare organization organized under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to Tea Party Patriots, Inc. are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

I Know I Have Two Identical Posts

The reason I have two "NRO: What Were Thinking?" posts is because I tried to link it someone else (Winston) and I messed up. I am still learning how to do that since I do not have haloscan anymore.

You can still trackback to me. This is how to do it.

1. Click on "Create a link".
2. There will be a pop-up. (I think.)
3. It will have my title, change this to your title.
4. Leave my permanent URL in the "Link" option.
5. Add my link (all of this comes with the 'create a link') to your post.
6. Publish.
7. You're done.

Don't forget to change to change the title to own or else the published link you've created will add my title as your URL. Weird, eh? Oh well. I didn't know this, so I had to do this again and I ended up with a new URL. Ugh.

I use Digg and a new person had one thing that he dugg on his site. Yup, my article. So I don't want it to disappear from him. I could let him know I changed URL's? I don't know. Sometimes they don't accept strangers comments. Oh what a web we weave when we try to please. haha. Have a great evening!

PS. I fix it so there's only one article now. I did leave a message with a link to the correct article. Wheh! ;)

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

U.S. Forces - Iraq stands up in Baghdad

US Forces - Iraq

BAGHDAD (Jan. 2, 2010) – A New Year's Day ceremony here marked another evolution of Operation Iraqi Freedom, as five major command groups merged into a single headquarters command, U.S. Forces - Iraq.

“This ceremony marks another significant transition here in Iraq,” said Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command. “It represents another important milestone in the continued drawdown of American forces.”

More than 300 U.S. and Iraqi servicemembers and civilians attended the new unit’s official activation ceremony at Al Faw Palace. Army Gen. Ray Odierno, Multinational Force Iraq commander, said goodbye to his unit, while subordinate commanders, Army Lt. Gen. Charles Jacoby, Jr., commander of Multinational Corps Iraq, Army Lt. Gen. Michael D. Barbero, commmander of Multinational Security and Transition Command Iraq, and Army Maj. Gen. David Quantcock, Task Force 134 commander, rendered their final honors and cased their colors, signifying the commands’ official inactivations.

Petraeus expressed his gratitude to the units’ troops for the hard work they performed.

“You, our troopers, have been the single element in all that we have done in Iraq with our Iraqi brothers,” General David H. Petraeus said. “You have been the ones who have translated concepts and ideas from leaders like General Odierno and me into reality on the ground, under body armor and rucksack, in tough conditions, against an often barbaric enemy.”

Petraeus noted the progress that has taken place in Iraq.

“We’ve made tremendous strides together since the dark days of 2006, 2007,” Petraeus said. “The number of attacks per day, including Iraqi data, has been reduced from well over 200 per day in 2007, to fewer than 15 per day in recent months.”

Petraeus also thanked the Iraqi leaders present for their “tremendous courage and determination in the face of innumerable challenges, continuous threats and periodic tragic losses.” He also commended members of the Iraqi Army. “To my Iraqi brothers in uniform, today’s ceremony would not have been possible without your extraordinary courage, devotion to duty and sheer hard work.”

Odierno will command the new unit. He said that though some units were going away, the Iraqis could continue to expect the same high level of cooperation and support from U.S. forces.

“Though we are activating a new headquarters today, the support we give our Iraqi partners will be no different than they received under MNF-I,” Odierno said.

Multinational Forces Iraq was established May 15, 2004, taking over command for Combined Joint Task Force 7 to handle all strategic-level operations for coalition forces contributing to OIF.

“Troops from 30 different countries served in the Multi-National Force Iraq,” U.S. Air Force Maj. Dennis Kruse, master of ceremonies, said at the ceremony.

Multinational Corps Iraq was also activated May 15, 2004 as the operational-level headquarters overseeing multi-national divisions and forces in Iraq, which included Multiational Divisions North, South, and Baghdad, as well as Multinational Force West, 13th Expeditionary Support Command and Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force. In addition, it also oversaw 13 separate task forces, brigades and battalion-sized organizations.

To organize, train and equip Iraq’s military and police forces, Multinational Security and Transition Command Iraq was established on June 28, 2004. Working closely with the Iraqi Ministries of Defense and Interior, the unit assisted in forming more than 250 Army and police battalions throughout the country.

Task Force 134 was established on April 15, 2004, to oversee all aspects of the conduct of detainee operations within theater and to serve as the executive agent for execution of theater policy as well as military doctrine. Their mission was care and custody with dignity and respect.

“Over its history (TF 134) has helped cultivate a foundation of security and stability in this important region of the world,” Kruse said.

The respective commanders and command sergeant majors from each deactivating unit stood on either side of the colors. On the order from Multinational Forces Iraq Command Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Wilson, all rendered last honors to their colors.

“Order arms,” Wilson’s voice rang through the rotunda. The colors were then cased and retired. The U.S. Army 1st Corps, U.S. Forces Iraq, and NATO Training Mission Iraq guidons were then unfurled and posted.

PHOTO: Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commanding general, USF-I and Command Sgt. Maj. Lawrence K. Wilson command sergeant major, USF-I, uncase the USF-I colors during the USF-I Activation Ceremony at Al Faw Palace, Camp Victory Iraq, Jan. 1.

Source: CENTCOM.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Petraeus puts Al-Qaida threat in Yemen in perspective

by Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON (Jan. 1, 2010) – The U.S. Central Command chief put the Al-Qaida threat in Yemen in perspective during a news conference in Baghdad Friday.

Army Gen. David H. Petraeus praised the Yemeni government for taking on the al-Qaida threat in the country.

“The Yemeni president and parliament take this threat very seriously,” he said. “And that is of enormous significance, especially in a country facing such challenges.”

Al-Qaida has moved into the area, because they have sustained defeats in other areas, he said. Al-Qaida had operated in Saudi Arabia, but the Saudis cracked down on the group and forced them out.

Petraeus said Al-Qaida in Saudi Arabia is largely defeated and its presence in the Gulf states is largely reduced. Al-Qaida in Iraq has been significantly diminished. “Yes, it can still carry out horrific attacks as we have seen in Baghdad … but (it is) very significantly reduced,” he said.

Even in Pakistan there has been progress with about a dozen al-Qaida leaders killed and the rest under pressure.

“Al-Qaida is always on the lookout for places where they might put down roots,” Petraeus said. “Some years ago … we could see the development of cells of al-Qaida in Yemen. This past year, this was recognized by al-Qaida’s senior leadership by designating al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.”

But dating to 2008, the United States has been working with the Yemeni government and their security forces to counter the al-Qaida threat, he said. The effort grew in 2009 with Yemini special forces and armed forces taking significant actions.

Petraeus called the U.S. security assistance to Yemen, “very robust” and said the almost $70 million in security funds going to Yemen will almost double in fiscal 2010. He noted there has been sharing of information and intelligence between the United States and Yemen.

Source: CENTCOM.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

NRO: What Were You Thinking?

I've waited a few days to gather my thoughts because I could not believe you would allow such an article to be published. Especially at such a time as this when there are brave Iranians being murdered, imprisoned, raped, sprayed with gas, etc just because they want the same rights you enjoy and I thought you cherished.

Rights such as freedom of speech, freedom to be left alone from the government, the right to tell your government when you don't like what they're doing (redress), the right to believe God however you choose (if you so choose), the right to not be molested in your own your own home, the right to be safe within your own person, the right not to be imprisoned for bogus charges which you sometimes don't get for many months, the right to have your lawyer with you during the 20 minute trial, etc.

If you do cherish these things, then why in God's name did you publish this?

Open Letter to NRO.

Dear Ms. Lopez, Mr. Lowry... et al at the National Review magazine.

I came across this shameful piece by your contributor M. Krikorian on NRO Corner today. [Screen shot of the post]

I'm an Iranian activist living in Canada. Moved to this country in [...] as a political activist since I couldn't operate in Iran any more and for as long as I can remember, I have read the National Review's great material online (at least since 2000-2001). I've been pro-America, Pro-Bush, Pro-US Military, anti-Islam, anti-Iran's regime, and I'd like to say your articles on Iran were illuminating and full of hope at a time when we felt the whole world had left us in the darkness of the jail also known as Iran. But tonight, I am very troubled by this shameful post, especially this statement:

"So, terrible as it is, it's actually in our interest for the Iranian regime to hold on as long as possible, and crack down as brutally as it can, so as to radicalize (i.e., de-Islamize) as much of the population as possible."

How dare you? To hold on to power as long as possible so you get a kick out of it? It shows the ignorance and silliness of the author. It shows the level of naivete of the author and goes to show how little he might know about the Iranian society. As far as I am concerned, the religion of Islam is a dead one in Iran. Hordes of people leave Islam and turn to other sources of spirituality, ie Buddhism, Zoroastrianism and Christianity or Baha'i faiths. Is your ignorant author happy that the innocent Iranians are being murdered on a daily basis? Does he not understand that every single day this regime holds to power means a day closer to having a nuclear armed Iran on our hands? [Continue reading The Spirit Of Man: Open Letter To NRO.]

Worse is better? What the hell does he think they are doing, throwing a party? THEY ARE BEING TORTURED, ASSASSINATED, and worse. The Chinese tanks are now there. Would he care to watch another Tiananmen Square? Would that be better for the world?

I don't get it. Maybe you can explain it to me since I'm so stupid. You wouldn't answer Winston's emails. He is my friend, and he has many more. I would rethink your policy of silence and answer him with an apology. Happy New Year. Yeah right...

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again. Digg!

Hat tip: Winston: The Spirit of Man: Open Letter To NRO.

NRO: What Were You Thinking?

This article has not disappeared. Click here to read it. Sorry about the inconvenience. It does not usually happen. Thanks.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again. Digg!

Founders' Daily Quote(s): 12/28/09-1/1/10

Monday, December 28, 2009.
"[W]hen the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British Parliament was advised by an artful man, - who was governor of Pennsylvania, to disarm the people; that it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them; but that they should not do it openly, but weaken them, and let them sink gradually, by totally disusing and neglecting the militia." --George Mason, speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1788

THIS is how governments become tyrannies.

Tue. 12/29.
"[T]he people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full possession of them." --Zacharia Johnson, speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1788

Must be some kind of right-wing nutcase, eh? Me too. ;)

Wed. 12/30.
"The whole of that Bill [of Rights] is a declaration of the right of the people at large or considered as individuals... [I]t establishes some rights of the individual as unalienable and which consequently, no majority has a right to deprive them of." --Albert Gallatin, letter to Alexander Addison, 1789

Thu. 12/31.
"Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which the people are attached and by which the militia officers are appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any which a simple government of any form can admit of." --James Madison, Federalist No. 46

Fri. January 1, 2010.
"If a well-regulated militia be the most natural defense of a free country, it ought certainly to be under the regulation and at the disposal of that body which is constituted the guardian of the national security. If standing armies are dangerous to liberty, an efficacious power over the militia in the same body ought, as far as possible, to take away the inducement and the pretext to such unfriendly institutions. If the federal government can command the aid of the militia in those emergencies which call for the military arm in support of the civil magistrate, it can the better dispense with the employment of a different kind of force. If it cannot avail itself of the former, it will be obliged to recur to the latter. To render an army unnecessary will be a more certain method of preventing its existence than a thousand prohibitions upon paper." --Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 29

Source: Patriot Post.us.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Video Potpourri 12/31/09

Here are today's videos. Enjoy!

New Videos from ReasonTV.

Worst. Decade. Ever.

Reason.tv's Nanny of the Year 2009!

New Videos from unclejimbomadcity.

Baconamon Sandwich.

New Videos from viperBSG's Favorites.

Chuck Norris-One-World Government.

shelley lubben.

1966 Fender P Bass.

Battlestar Galactica - Capturing the Cylon Tankers (Fan Edit).

PRS Starla Guitar.

Edgar Cruz - Bohemian Rhapsody (classical guitar).

Amazing Bass Guitar Player!

Rocktron Utopia B300.

Lightwave Saber VL5 fretless bass.

It's Amazing - by Dario Salas Jr.

Silent Monks Singing Halleluia.

Mean Kitty Surprise.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Update On Iran Insurrection 12/30/09

Today the fake government of Iran held their own rally, and they could only find up to 20,000 people to show up. They bought them food, made them signs, told them what to chant, and took them home. Oh yes, they had to bus them in from outside of Tehran, so they were not Tehranis. Pretty slick, eh?

Notice one thing, they did not have police shooting at them, they did not have the basij and the irgc fighting them. No riot gear. Yet the Green Movement, which is many times more popular, had about over one million people in July after the fake election and many hundreds of thousand people facing these thugs with no weapons, no protection, no nothing. All they had is disgust and courage.

They want a peaceful, secular Iran. They don't want to fight, and they were not fighting. It was the basij and irgc who started the fighting. They pushed them past the point of peaceful protest. They restrained their anger for so long.

Sunday was the 7th day after the death (they mourn the dead of Mohammad's grandson and family after 7 days on the day of Ashura, very holy day) of one their reformist Clerics who had criticized this regime ever since the 80's. He was one of the original people of the revolution in 1979. He soon became disenchanted with the way the government was taking shape. Many people in Iran are saddened at his loss, so their is a little division because the protest started on that day. Otherwise, they generally agree with the Green Movement.

It is true that not all the people agree or want Iran to change. You will find this in any party, any country, any state, etc. So please don't misquote me as saying everyone! *heh*

Even though I have been praying for the Christians in Iran and trying to talk to Congress about human rights issues, I still do not know as much about the Persian history as I would like to know. That is why I have three people I would like to introduce you to that are Iranian bloggers.

First I would like to introduce to a friend of mine who we share a blog with, his name is 'Korosh' and his blog is DEMOCRACY FOR IRAN دموكراسي براي ايران. He is a very peace-loving man, and he keeps up with the news pretty well.

I met Winston next. He has a site over at The Spirit of Man. He is a rather funny guy. (He has a great sense of humor.) He also desires a regime change. He has been following this history as it happens, so you should really check out his site.

I just found this site a couple days ago, but it is very good also. The name of it is The Daily Nite Owl and his latest post is ‘Millions’ Out in Support of Government in Iran? Think Again. This one covers the state run, state owned, state bought people to rally as if they are pro-government. Ha. If they loved the govt so much, why did they have to go out of town to gather people...starting yesterday!

I don't want to report anything I cannot confirm, and unfortunately I can't even be sure of this. All of them have relatives and friends in Iran, so I have a tendency to rely on their versions. They coincide with what I've been reading in the papers and seeing on Twitter's #iranelection. Also unfortunately, that's all I have for now. I hope to learn more for tomorrow. Until then, everyone stay safe and pray for our brothers and sisters who are fighting for their own Life and Liberty. Thanks.

Update: I have just read a marvelous article at Muslims Against Sharia by SP. The name of the article is Amil Imani: Is Regime Change Coming To Iran? Well written and more in depth than I could write. Great job.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Clearing Out This Year's Posts

Today I will be going through my emails in the hopes of finishing this year's posts. If you would like, you may find out which posts they are by reading the post below. Just to let you know I am still here.

BTW, beginning next month I will be very busy with our Citizen Power Campaign until the Tea Party on April 15th.

If there is news out there that I should know about and you want me to receive it, it would be better if you posted a comment. I got my emails down to 200+ from 700+. So you see, it does get rather hectic around here! Thank you, and have a very blessed new year.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

'Blue Dogs' Voting Records

Americans for Limited Government has emailed me this nice little tidbit and I want to share it with you in case you have any qualms as to who these so-called 'moderate blue dogs' really are. Here are their voting records. (.pdf) Happy trails.

Are you aware that these blue dogs have their own website? They only fell short by voting for $3.6 Billion dollars...for this year alone!

To read more, please visit Americans for Limited Government. You will be amazed.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again. Digg!

Iranian Revolution For Liberty

Before we become engrossed in the facts of today, I would like to ask you to join me in prayer not only for their success, but also for their safety from the basijis and IRGC. May they all turn their arms against the government and join the revolution.

Today the fight continues. Most countries have stepped forward and condemned the violent repression by the Iranian government. There are many photos, videos, and articles about this atrocity. I shall provide a list of articles written by others at the end of this post. I will also be updating, so remember to come back.

The Iranian TV and newspapers (that is, the ones that are still open) are reporting that 8 people were killed yesterday (I heard it was 10 civilians and 5 basijis) and 300 plus were arrested. Ali Habibi Mousavi, nephew of Mousavi who lost the election this year (we'll never know), was also killed by these creeps. He was shot after being run over and then shot in chest. It was no accident.

There are reports that his (Mousavi's) nephew's body is missing. Let me just add one note of importance here. I do not like Mousavi. He is the same as Ahmadinejad. If he was not, he would not have been allowed to run for office. Just so we are clear on this issue. I support the Iranian Green Movement, not the elitist government officials.

One of the interesting items I read about was Coup in Iran?. If this is true, we may be a witness to the history of the collapse of the Iranian tyrannical regime! I just pray that they do not turn out to be oppressors.

I read something about the December 22nd. Many people and relatives freed two men who were to be hanged, and they were shot dead. The creeps caught the two men which made the crowd even angrier. Eventually, the two men were hanged.

AtlasShrugs has this to offer:

IRAN REVOLUTION: MASSIVE PROTESTS, DEATHS REPORTED, CHAOS.

Pandemonium as clashes continue in Tehran for 2nd day as protesters defy Islamic Government (more) Eyewitness reports and opposition websites say Security forces fired on the crowds in several places, wounding many, killing at least four that we know of. [Read more.]

Many pictures are included.

Winston was also watching closely as the riots broke out. They didn't have to turn into riots, but the thuggish government just has to start firing at innocent people (my assessment). I think he may have taken his leave. He does need to sleep, and he liveblogged all day and night.

From reading the tweets at #iranelection, it appears that there is much fighting going on between the freedom fighters and the anti-riot goons. It seems to be an uprising all over Iran, but we must wait and see.

One thing I know for sure, they want to accomplish this victory by themselves. Do they want our support? Of course they do! They want everyone who is a freedom-loving person who loves peace's support. I shall return in a while, but I must go for a while. Have a nice day, and don't forget to pray for the safety of the freedom fighters and the demise of all tyrants.

Update: Here is a cartoon found through twitter's #iranelection. He hopes one day the Iranian people will actually see this!

Update II: This is an article I read last night (or was that this morning?), and it is very good. It covers news, photos, and videos. Please be careful though, some of these videos are graphic. Are you brave enough to watch what is really happening in actual life in this world, or are you too cozy? Hmm.

Update III: Here is some more live blogging from EnduringAmerica.

Daftar-Tahkim-Vahdat, the main reformist Student Alumni Organisation, also issued a statement:

What a regret that a government that considers itself to be risen from religious teachings and a national revolution, on the noon of Ashura opens fire on innocents and does what even the most notorious rulers of this country throughout the history [e.g. the Shah deposed in 1979] had not dared to do.

2055 GMT: Taking Sides? We’ve posted the video of President Obama’s statement (see 2020 GMT) and it’s even harder-hitting than we thought:”History will be on the side of those who seek justice. [Read more.]

If you want to see what has happened so far today, this is a good source.

This next articles asks if this is the beginning an Iranian-style anti-fada.

The opposition has proven it has the resolve and resilience to sustain its risky challenge, despite the regime’s ruthless use of force, mass arrests, show trials and reports of torture and rape in prison. In the escalating political showdown the opposition has the momentum.

Just as important, the emergence of people power is also setting a new precedent in the last bloc of countries ruled by authoritarian regimes. Thirty years ago, Iran’s revolution redefined politics throughout the Middle East by ending dynastic rule and introducing Islam as a modern political idiom. Iran’s uprising is doing it again — this time by taking to the streets to demand an end to dictatorship as well as calling for fundamental rights such as free speech, a free press and respect for the individual vote. [Read more.]

The London Times Online seems to think the opposition people have many different reasons that don't necessarily mix. I disagree to a certain point, but that is their right. I won't chop their head off over it. /sarc

Update IV: I have just learned that the total murdered on Sunday was around 37. (I am following #iranelection at Twitter.)

@SandyCeline: RT @Alyssa_Milano #IranElection will be remembered as the YouTube revolution bit.ly/5gkZ58 (via @mparent77772)
half a minute ago from TweetDeck

@lysssandros: Ashura Death Toll Rises: IRNA says 37 killed on Sunday/Ashura country wide #iranelection #politics #humanrights #cnn
half a minute ago from web

Source(s): TimeOnline: Seven opposition leaders arrested as Mousavi nephew's body 'missing'.
EnduringAmerica: Iran: A Point of No Return?
Free Republic: Coup in Iran?.
AtlasShrugs: IRAN REVOLUTION: MASSIVE PROTESTS, DEATHS REPORTED, CHAOS.
The Spirit of Man: The Spirit of Man: Khamenei is a donkey.
Political Cartoons: Iranian Revolution Color.
IranNewsNow: Live-blog: Ashura in Iran – December 27, 2009.
EnduringAmerica: The Latest from Iran (28 December): The Regime’s Arresting Strategy.
TimesOnline: Is this Iran’s Berlin Wall moment?

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again. Digg!

Iran On Fire

First a little background, since the media seems not to know any. On the 17th of December is known in to Shia Muslims and Iran as the first day of the year and the month is Moharram. This is when they honor the grandchildren of Mohammad who was murdered. They do this many in many different ways, and you can read about that here. Ashura is a very important day in the Shia Muslim world. This is the 10th day of the month (Dec. 27th).

This year, the Green Movement in Iran has chosen this day to let the murderous regime know once again that they do not want to live under their tyranny. Many people appear to believe that the riots of June 2009 have stopped, they would be woefully wrong. Our media just stopped paying attention. SHAME ON YOU.

Now for the articles I have found for you.

Watch for the next wave of protests in Iran: December 27th. Planet Iran.

'Four protesters killed' in fresh Iran clashes. Times of London Online.

Iran: Central Tehran covered with smoke and fire. National Council of Resistence of Iran.

Hat tip to the best blogger on this issue: Khamenei is a donkey. Winston.

Update: Here is the link for ePersian.

Update II: The Washington Times has a great historical background: EDITORIAL: Iran's perfect storm.

Update III: This is a video that some people are claiming a police station was taken by the people. It is unconfirmed. GRAPHIC

Update IV: Statement of Iran from the State Dept:

Statement by National Security Council Spokesman Mike Hammer on violence in Iran.

WASHINGTON, D.C (Upfront News) -- Statement on Iran:

'We strongly condemn the violent and unjust suppression of civilians in Iran seeking to exercise their universal rights. Hope and history are on the side of those who peacefully seek their universal rights, and so is the United States. Governing through fear and violence is never just, and as President Obama said in Oslo - it is telling when governments fear the aspirations of their own people more than the power of any other nation.'

Hat tip: Upfront News. Confirmed by Politico, USA Today and other articles, and Reuters.

Update V: Iranian protesters are dying for freedom – where is Barack Obama? Telegraph.co.uk.

Update: Great analysis from yesterday: Live-Blogging Ashura Protests in Iran by The Daily Nite Owl.

Update: This is a very good site full of information and opinion. Obama on vacation so Iranian civilian deaths, terrorist airplane attacks will just have to wait/Video.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Created link: Rosemary's Thoughts: Iran On Fire at The Spirit of Man: Khamenei is a donkey. Digg!

Candidate For Congress Lt Col Allen West

This is a very inspiring 6 minutes about America. Please listen to what Lt Col West has to say. If you are not moved, you are at the wrong site. If you are moved, please visit him at Allen West for Congress 2010!

Here is the link to this video in case it isn't appearing.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Christmas Explained By Linus

I love this show. I didn't get to watch many Christmas shows this year. Did they have many? If this is a of the times, we're in trouble. Let us remember to take the time to pray for those whom are far away from our shores protecting them. Yes, pray for our loved ones, our country, and yes, even (or especially) our government. God certainly knew they would need it!

In case the video isn't working, here is the link.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hat tip: The Amboy Times.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Founders' Daily Quote(s): 12/21-25/09

Monday, December 21, 2009.
"[W]hereas, to preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them; nor does it follow from this, that all promiscuously must go into actual service on every occasion. The mind that aims at a select militia, must be influenced by a truly anti-republican principle; and when we see many men disposed to practice upon it, whenever they can prevail, no wonder true republicans are for carefully guarding against it." --Federal Farmer, Antifederalist Letter, No.18

Tue. 12/22.
"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined." --Patrick Henry, speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1778

Remember this with daily ferver. Forget this at your peril and demise.

Wed. 12/23.
"O sir, we should have fine times, indeed, if, to punish tyrants, it were only sufficient to assemble the people! Your arms, wherewith you could defend yourselves, are gone; and you have no longer an aristocratical, no longer a democratical spirit. Did you ever read of any revolution in a nation, brought about by the punishment of those in power, inflicted by those who had no power at all?" --Patrick Henry, speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1778

Thu. 12/24.
"[T]he only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments." --Benjamin Rush, On the Mode of Education Proper in a Republic, 1806

Fri. 12/25.
"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." --Luke 2:1-7

Source: Patriot Post.us.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Merry Christmas To All

We have accomplished so much this year, and I want to thank each and every one of you for your help and participation. But now is a time of reflection and joy. If we receive no gifts tomorrow, it will still be a great success. For we have already received the greatest gift of all. The gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Happy Birthday Jesus. To all of you, Merry Christmas and rest. We will get together after the first of the year. Thank you.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Ambassador, general discuss Iraq elections, Iran relations

by Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

BAGHDAD (Dec. 19, 2009) – Iraq “is not going to be pushed around” by Iran, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Christopher Hill said here Saturday.

Hill and Gen. Ray Odierno, the commander of Multil-National Force - Iraq, spoke to reporters traveling with Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Iranians moved onto a disputed oil well in southern Iraq and placed an Iranian flag on the facility. They have since left the facility, which is clearly in Iraqi territory. “It['s] like a game of capture the flag,” said an American spokesman in southern Iraq yesterday. “It has been going on for years.”

“This is not something new, and it’s been dealt with in a good manner by the Iraqis,” Odierno said. “They contacted the Iranians and they just left.”

The general said Iran and Iraq has disputed this oil well since 1975.

Odierno spoke about the security portion of the agreement between Iraq and the United States that calls for all U.S. troops to leave the country at the end of 2011.

“We can do security operations in Iraq through the end of 2011,” he said. “But what we’ve done is, President Obama has made the decision that we will end combat operations on 1 September 2010. The bottom line is the Iraqis are doing a very good job of security.”

The number of incidents in the country is the lowest its been since 2003 and normalcy has returned for most citizens. “What’s happening though is that al-Qaida has changed from a broad-based insurgency to a covert terrorist organization that is attempting to conduct high-profile attacks to go after the legitimacy of the government of Iraq,” Odierno said. Al-Qaida wants to attack the government and disrupt the elections now set for March 7.

Iranian influence in Iraq is a question. For the elections, Iran has “some ideas of how the Shias should be organized,” Hill said. “I don’t think the Iranians have prevailed in their view, I think the Iraqis will do it the way they plan to do it.”

The Iraqis worked their way painfully through the Election Law, “but ultimately it was an Iraqi solution,” Hill said.

Odierno said that Iran continues to train surrogates and send weapons and ammunition across the border. “It’s less tha[n] what it was, but they are still doing it,” Odierno said

Source: CENTCOM.

Founders' Daily Quote(s): 12/14-18/09

Monday, December 14, 2009.
"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States." --Noah Webster, An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution, 1787

Take THAT you silly Libs.

Tue. 12/15.
"A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks." --Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr, 1785

Wed. 12/16.
"One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them." --Thomas Jefferson, letter to George Washington, 1796

Thu. 12/17.
??? Who took my Daily Quote? Come on, give it up! *sigh*

Fri. 12/18.
"We established however some, although not all its [self-government] important principles. The constitutions of most of our States assert, that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves, in all cases to which they think themselves competent, (as in electing their functionaries executive and legislative, and deciding by a jury of themselves, in all judiciary cases in which any fact is involved,) or they may act by representatives, freely and equally chosen; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed." --Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Cartwright, 1824

Source: Patriot Post.us.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Petraeus hold spirited all-hands call at NSA Bahrain

by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan Schaeffer
US Naval Forces Central Command.

MANAMA, Bahrain (Dec. 15, 2009) – Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), held a spirited All Hands call at Naval Support Activity Bahrain Dec. 13

Petraeus began the event by recognizing the 17-3 football victory by the Navy Midshipmen over the Army Corps of Cadets at the 111th Army-Navy game held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia Dec. 12. In recognition of Navy’s victory, Petraeus wore a U.S. Navy hat throughout the All Hands call.

The CENTCOM commander also invited service members from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force up onto a stage for several competitions which included “Dancing With the Stars,” a rap contest, and an Iron Man challenge.

Petraeus then recognized several Sailors including Personnel Specialist 1st Class Bobby Manning, who is assigned to the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) Administration Department. Petraeus recognized Manning for his outstanding customer service and presented him with an official U.S. Navy Midshipmen football jersey.

Following the spirited competitions and Sailor recognitions, Petraeus focused his comments on the U.S. Navy’s contribution to the overall CENTCOM mission and thanked Sailors for helping to bring security and stability in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

“You’re working with a Coalition of nations to conduct Maritime Security Operations throughout the region, interdicting the flow of extremists, ensuring the free flow of commerce, helping to protect critical maritime infrastructure, and providing both ballistic missile defense and aerospace missile defense,” said Petraeus. “These are not just simple missions. They are extraordinary missions and very important. None of these missions are easy. They’re all hard and require sacrifice, service, and separation from loved ones which is especially difficult at this time of year.”

Petraeus also recalled his trip to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility to visit USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS Sampson (DDG 102) on Thanksgiving Day.

“I reminded them and they reminded me how impressive they are,” said Petraeus. “In fact, sometimes when a team really works together like a great orchestra, you sometimes forget how hard it is to get all the different pieces and instruments to play in harmony and work together. But it happens and it’s awesome and it’s also intimidating. It is truly awe-inspiring.”

At the end of the All Hands call, Vice Adm. Bill Gortney presented U.S. Navy running shoes to Petraeus in recognition of the 17-3 football victory by the Navy Midshipmen Gen. Petraeus visited Bahrain Dec. 11-13 to participate in the 6th annual Manama Dialogue, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. The Manama Dialogue is a symposium designed for security representatives from Arabian Gulf States and other nations to openly discuss security and stability in the region.

Photo: Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander, U.S. Central Command, dons a Navy ball cap during an all hands call on board Naval Support Activity Bahrain in honor of Navy’s 17-3 defeat against Army in the 111th Army-Navy football game Dec 12.

Source: CENTCOM.

Evangelist Oral Roberts: RIP

Oral Roberts has always been a household name ever since I can remember, and I will miss him. He died today of pneumonia complications, his spokesman said. He was 91. A long and well lived life. I know he is in Heaven right now with Jesus Christ, God of all. May you rest in peace, and may your family and all other loved ones be comforted by God. Thank you for your service here on earth. I'll see you later.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

How To's For Petitions and Voter Registration Forms

Here are two videos which should answer any questions you might have about gathering signatures for the petition.

Here is the link to YouTube in case you cannot see the video.

Now for the voter registration.

Here is the link at YouTube for this in case you can't see this video either.

For those of you who do not know petitions I am referring to, please go to Unplug the Political Machine. From there you will be able to join up, volunteer, and read about this petition which we are trying to get on this November's ballot. Basically, we want to stop the corruption in Sacramento, California. Simply stated, this petition will require PUBLIC union bosses to gather signatures and ask for money the same as you and me. Right now, the government takes the money out of PUBLIC employees paychecks, gives it to the Public union bosses who turn around and give it back to the politicians. We have no voice any more, and we're tired of it.

I would like to thank Bridget Blanton of the Tomecula Valley Tea Party Patriots for all of her hard work and help she has given toward this effort. You're the tops, Lady. ;)

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Cross-posted @ Long Beach Patriots, TCU, SGP. Digg!

Hello again...

I forgot to write before we unplugged the tower to the latest computer I bought to let you know I would have to be out of touch for a few days. I don't like when that happens but alas, it does happen.

Fortunately, my new tower is back and everything seems to be operating smoothly...so far. I'll be writing again shortly. Let me get some of these 600+ emails looked at or tossed first. Ugh. God bless everyone, especially our Troops, and take care.

Founders' Daily Quote(s): 12/7-11/09

Monday, December 7, 2009.
"Every man who loves peace, every man who loves his country, every man who loves liberty ought to have it ever before his eyes that he may cherish in his heart a due attachment to the Union of America and be able to set a due value on the means of preserving it." --James Madison, Federalist No. 41

Tue. 12/8.
"We are firmly convinced, and we act on that conviction, that with nations as with individuals our interests soundly calculated will ever be found inseparable from our moral duties, and history bears witness to the fact that a just nation is trusted on its word when recourse is had to armaments and wars to bridle others." --Thomas Jefferson, Second Inaugural Address, 1805

On April 27, 1805, the US went to war with Tripoli. This is also known as the Barbary Coast. They were defeated by June 1805.

Wed. 12/9.
"Let the American youth never forget, that they possess a noble inheritance, bought by the toils, and sufferings, and blood of their ancestors; and capacity, if wisely improved, and faithfully guarded, of transmitting to their latest posterity all the substantial blessings of life, the peaceful enjoyment of liberty, property, religion, and independence." --Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution, 1833

Thu. 12/10.

Hey you critters in DC. That means once you've purchased something it is yours and no more taxes are to be levied upon it. Got it? Didn't think so...

Fri. 12/11.
"The steady character of our countrymen is a rock to which we may safely moor; and notwithstanding the efforts of the papers to disseminate early discontents, I expect that a just, dispassionate and steady conduct, will at length rally to a proper system the great body of our country. Unequivocal in principle, reasonable in manner, we shall be able I hope to do a great deal of good to the cause of freedom & harmony." --Thomas Jefferson, letter to Elbridge Gerry, 1801

Can anyone say, "Tea Party"?

Source: Patriot Post.us.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Video Potpourri 12/10/09

Here are today's videos. Enjoy!

New Videos from ReasonTV.

John J. Miller on "The First Assassin": History, Poltics, & The Future of Publishing.

A True Tale of Canadian Health Care: Why some patients need to go to the U.S. for surgery.

New Videos from unclejimbomadcity.

Tribunals for Terrorists- Cully Stimson.

Story Time w/ Uncle J- Technicolor Savages.

Jay Rosen on Internet Credibility.

New Videos from machosauceproduction

Dopenhagen.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Army, Marines adjust 'reset' for Afghan buildup

by Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON (Dec. 10, 2009) – As the U.S. military answers President Barack Obama’s order to reinforce efforts in Afghanistan, the Army and Marine Corps are adjusting their plans to redeploy working and serviceable equipment, top military officers told Congress.

Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, Army vice chief of staff, and Gen. James F. Amos, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, testified on their services’ “reset” requirements before subcommittees of the House Armed Services Committee.

The proceedings were a continuation of a July hearing that was interrupted because of a prolonged series of House votes. The initial hearing focused on Iraq drawdown plans and attempted to outline the method in which the services determined what equipment would redeploy and what would be left for Iraqi security forces.

However, much has changed in the past five months. On Dec. 1, Obama ordered a surge of 30,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan, , so some of the equipment in Iraq that was scheduled to return to the United States has been re-directed to outfit units headed to Afghanistan.

Roughly 22,000 soldiers are part of the plus-up in Afghanistan, “and quite a bit of the equipment coming out of Iraq [will] be used to support those soldiers,” Chiarelli said.

“That will mean as we begin the Iraq drawdown in earnest, that there will be less equipment coming back to the states for reset,” the general said.

Amos described the Marine Corps adjustment since July, noting 15,000 Marines were on the ground in Iraq then. Only about one-third of those Marines remain, and about 97 percent of their combat equipment was returned home or is being refurbished in Kuwait, Amos said.

When Marine Corps leaders heard of the possibility of an Afghan buildup, a “big chunk” of their equipment in Kuwait was made ready for Afghanistan, he added.

“When we first heard an inkling of a plus-up in Afghanistan, we took the equipment that we knew was furbishable and in good condition and set it aside in anticipation of the president’s directive,” Amos explained.

The Marine Corps buildup is roughly 9,000 Marines, and is the service’s No. 1 priority, he said. Amos added that those Marines will be equipped either in Kuwait or at their home stations.

“Our greatest focus right now is getting equipment to our forces in Afghanistan,” he continued. “We will have 100 percent of every piece of equipment they need, with all the capabilities.”

Another change Amos noted since the July hearing was the Marine Corps’ reset bill. When he last testified, he estimated that the Marine Corps would need about $20 billion to completely replace war-torn and unusable equipment. The estimate has increased an additional $15 billion to accommodate the Afghanistan mission and lessons learned in the past five months, he said.

Chiarelli didn’t have an opportunity to elaborate on the Army’s reset costs, but considering the Army is a much larger force, the costs are likely higher. He did note that the Army is set to establish Red River Army Depot in Texas as its maintenance hub for mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, better known as MRAPs. The initiative is now a pilot program, but should be fully up and running in fiscal 2011, he said.

The Army has integrated about 37,000 MRAP vehicles into its force, because of the added protection its V-shaped hull provides troops.

“I think we’re embracing the MRAP, and doing everything we can to ensure when those vehicles start flowing back out of theater, we’re ready to accept them, sustain them and reset them,” Chiarelli said.

The Marine Corps also has determined that the MRAP is going to be part of its total ground tactical vehicle strategy after success in Iraq and Afghanistan, Amos said. He anticipates more than 2,300 MRAP vehicles to soon become part of the regular Marine inventory.

In July, both generals expressed concern over the degrading readiness of their forces after nearly eight years of high tempo counterinsurgency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The generals conceded that the ground forces must maintain capabilities to respond to future contingencies around the world.

Amos said the current security environments in Iraq and Afghanistan justify the readiness tradeoff, but the military must remain balanced and have the support of the American people and Congress to seek modernization.

PHOTO: Marines provide security over an alleyway during a security halt while patrolling the region of Now Zad, Afghanistan, known as The Greens, Dec. 9.

Source: CENTCOM.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again.

Fragile peace may unravel in Southern Sudan

CNN Reports:

By David McKenzie and Ingrid Formanek, CNN
December 9, 2009 9:28 p.m. EST

WALGAK, Sudan (CNN) -- The children of this dusty village rarely see cars or trucks, but they fashion toy airplanes out of mud with paper propellers that turn in a hot, dry wind. It's what they know.

Here in one of the most isolated spots on Earth, cut off from the outside world and surrounded by increasing violence, the children of Walgak and hundreds of thousands of others in Southern Sudan depend on emergency air drops of food to survive.

This is not the peace they had hoped for.

A rare sense of optimism enveloped Walgak and other southern parts of Sudan after a 2005 treaty ended a 21-year-long north-south civil war that killed 2 million people and forced about 4 million others from their homes.

Yet high-ranking Western officials say an increase in tribal violence, pervasive hunger, lack of development and interference from the Khartoum central government in northern Sudan could cast autonomous Southern Sudan into free-fall even as southerners prepare to vote in January 2011 on whether to become an independent nation.

They say violent tribal rivalries could engulf the south and lingering tension with the north could trigger a resumption of the civil war.

The United Nations says more people have been killed in Southern Sudan this year than in the western region of Darfur, where a separate conflict drew international attention, prompted charges of genocide and led the International Criminal Court to indict the Sudanese president for war crimes.

Two attacks in the south in August and September killed more than 250, including 100 women and children. Ethnic violence has displaced nearly 400,000 people in a desolate region already saddled with hunger, disease and isolation.

"For us there is no life. There is fighting," said Rebecca Wal, a southerner who recently lost three of her four children to ethnic violence. "People don't care if we live or die."

Nine of 10 people in the southern parts of Sudan live on less than $1 a day, and one in seven women who become pregnant die from complications, said Lise Grande, the United Nations' humanitarian coordinator for Southern Sudan.

It's a place the size of Texas that has only 30 miles of paved roads, a region where 15-year-old girls are more likely to die in childbirth than finish school.

Just this year, famine has left a million southerners dependent on emergency air drops from the World Food Programme.

The misery comes after generations of war.

Complaints that northerners marginalized and oppressed southerners sparked a civil war that ravaged Sudan from 1955, just as British colonists were winding down their rule, to 1972.

Fighting that raged again from 1983 to 2005 pitted black Africans in the south who follow Christianity or traditional African religions against a northern government dominated by Arab Muslims.

Both sides signed a peace deal in January 2005 that ended the carnage of civil war and gave the south autonomy even as a separate spasm of killing and rape engulfed Darfur.

Yet that fragile peace may be unraveling.

Some southerners blame their former enemies in the north for instigating violence in Southern Sudan. As the south plans to participate in national elections in April, many southerners say the north has hindered access to registration materials, logistical support and voter education.

The north denies those charges, but they're among the reasons that analysts worry about an outbreak of north-south violence in a region already buckling under the weight of corruption, cattle rustling and revenge attacks.

That, coupled with the fragility of the 2005 peace agreement, is why many long-time Sudan watchers and experts fear the country may be slipping toward war.

"A third civil war is very possible," said David Gressley, the United Nations' regional coordinator for Southern Sudan, if the key issues of oil, credible elections and north-south border demarcation aren't resolved.

A recent study documented an "accelerating" flow of weapons to the military forces of both the north and south. The study was published by the Small Arms Survey, a research project at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.

Disputes about oil fields and contested boundaries also could trigger conflict. In March 2008, for example, southern forces clashed with northern troops around the disputed oil-rich city of Abyei. That fighting "resulted in the destruction" of the town "and the displacement of between 30,000 and 50,000 people," the U.N. secretary-general said in a statement at the time.

Even if the south manages to avoid more violence between southern tribes or a resumption of war with the north, a vote in favor of independence in 2011 could pose profound problems.

Most southerners were too busy fighting or running for their lives for much of the past two decades to worry much about creating the institutions of a government necessary for a successful state, Grande said.

"We are literally looking at the construction of a state from the ground up," she said. "This is a project that takes decades."

Maj. Gen. Gier Chuang Aluong, the south's minister of internal affairs, acknowledged that the problems are daunting.

"We have been at war for 21 years. The focus was only to fight the war. We have not been focusing on management, leadership training so you can actually establish good governance" he said.

"Every country in the world has passed through this process," he said. "The corruption, the insecurity, it is the process that everyone must pass through -- especially coming from a war background."

Many southerners say they favor independence. They speak of creating a "new Sudan" as a solution to what they describe as a history of being marginalized and oppressed. Unity with the northern-based government remains an option, though Aluong has suspicions about it.

"Unity is never attractive, but at the end of the day, it will not be the leadership -- it will not be the government -- that will determine whether the Southern Sudanese will vote for unity or vote for separation," he said. "It will be a decision that is going to be taken by individual Southern Sudanese."

If you would like to view some of their many videos about this issue, you will them here. That is, if CNN doesn't move their article again.

CNN. I will stop posting the whole article when you decide to leave it where you first posted it. I'm tired of linking to you only to find out that the post has been moved. If the information was important enough to be printed in the first place, it is still important for those who were unaware and wish to be educated on the subject. Thanks.

May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can walk along side Him again. Digg!